Mindfulness and Meditation Series Begins November 2

This year the Tang Institute is hosting discussions, workshops, and other opportunities as part of a new ​“Mindfulness and Meditation” series for the Andover community. The series will kick off in November with two events hosted by Matthew Hepburn, an instructor at the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center. Hepburn has also served as a meditation teacher in prisons since 2012 and has taught in schools, inner-city dharma centers, and silent residential meditation retreat centers. All are invited to join in these upcoming events and explore mindfulness in daily life:

Friday, November 2: At 7 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium, Hepburn will lead the discussion, ​“Going Beyond Mindfulness,” about finding freedom and calm in everyday life. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Saturday, November 3: Starting at 9:30 a.m., Hepburn will lead the daylong workshop, ​“Mindfulness Meditation Workshop: Understanding Your Inner World,” to explore ways to incorporate mindfulness and meditation into everyday life. 

Location

The workshop will take place in Davis Hall, inside the McKeen Building on Abbot Campus. If you are using a GPS or web-based map, please use ​“1 Abbot Campus Road” as the address. This is the closest address to the entrance of Abbot Campus. Parking will be available at Graves lot, a short walk from the Abbot Campus. Signs will direct you to Davis Hall from the Graves Lot. A campus map is available here.

Activities and Planning

The day will include a variety of meditation-based activities, including seated meditation and an opportunity to participate in a walking meditation. We encourage participants to wear comfortable clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Please note that, while we will have cushions, yoga mats, and chairs at the workshop, we do expect the number of participants to exceed what we have available. We strongly encourage your to bring your own cushion, blanket, or yoga mat if you have one (or two!). 

Registration

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Learn More

Meditation and mindfulness can help people live a happier, calmer, healthier, and more authentic life. Recommended reading on mindfulness includes:

• For teachers: To learn more about mindfulness for teachers, check out this recent New York Times article by Alison Cohen, who visited campus most recently in September to lead a workshop on mindful leadership with our students. 
• For students: For a student perspective on mindfulness, please visit this blog post by Julia Beckwith, ​’17. 
• For schools: To read other reflections on mindfulness in school contexts, visit the blog of Mindful Schools, an organization that has worked with many Andover teachers.

Also stay connected with us online for updates on the Tang Institute’s ​“Mindfulness and Meditation” series.

Join In: Weekly Sits

The Tang Institute’s regular mindfulness sessions are also underway. Regular drop-in sits take place every Wednesday at 8 a.m. and noon, in Pearson D. All are invited to attend. If you have questions, please email tanginstitute@​andover.​edu. Also make sure to sign up for our mindfulness listserv to receive updates on sits and other community opportunities.